The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM), in collaboration with national and international partners, has successfully organised a Youth Changemaker Train-the-Trainer (TTT) and Co-Creation Programme aimed at empowering future nutrition professionals to address challenges within the digital food environment affecting adolescents and university students.
Supported by the British Council and Akademi Sains Malaysia, the initiative brought together partners from the University of Leeds, Universiti Putra Malaysia, the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, the International Life Sciences Institute Southeast Asia Region, and the Khazanah Research Institute.
The three-day workshop, held from 12 to 14 December 2025 at the Bangi Resort Hotel, brought together 29 undergraduate nutrition students from nine public and private universities across Malaysia, including five students from UNM’s School of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
Designed to strengthen participants’ capacity as Youth Changemakers, the programme equipped students with evidence-based knowledge, communication skills, and leadership competencies to navigate the rapidly evolving digital food landscape. Through expert-led sessions and interactive learning activities, participants examined the influence of online food marketing, social media, and digital platforms on adolescents’ dietary behaviours. They also learned to apply Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) approaches to design effective and engaging health promotion strategies.
The programme adopted a three-stage training model. Participants first attended a series of online webinars to build foundational knowledge on digital food environments and youth-centred communication. This was followed by an intensive three-day Train-the-Trainer workshop featuring debates, role-plays, and mentored group work, during which students developed concepts for youth-friendly nutrition education materials. The final stage involves post-workshop mentoring and co-creation sessions, where participants collaborate with peers and adolescents to refine and pilot digital education tools, including gamified learning activities, interactive sessions, videos, infographics, and social media resources.
UNM academics Dr Cheng Shi Hui and Dr Lee Siew Siew contributed to the programme as organising committee members and mentors, supporting youth-led co-creation and the development of innovative digital food environment education tools. The initiative also reflects UNM’s broader commitment to translating research and education into real-world impact, particularly in the areas of public health nutrition and youth empowerment.
The final co-created outputs will be showcased at a regional dissemination workshop in April 2026, providing students with a platform to share their work with educators, policymakers, and regional partners through the UK–SEA Child and Adolescent Nutrition (ChAN) Network.
Overall, the Youth Changemaker TTT Programme represents a significant step towards empowering young people not only as beneficiaries of nutrition initiatives, but as co-creators and leaders driving sustainable solutions for healthier digital food environments.
Posted on 7th January 2026